Kapitan Timothy Granger pół życia służył na „Konstytucji”. Okręt był stary, pochodził jeszcze z czasów, gdy Ziemię zaatakowali obcy z kosmosu. Ludzkość odparła wroga i przygotowała się na kolejną inwazję, jednak od tamtej pory minęło wiele lat. Kapitan Granger i jego załoga nie zaznali już ognia walki i nie wierzyli, że obcy powrócą. Przestarzała „Konstytucja” stanowiła tylko relikt przeszłości i ślepy zaułek w karierze, na jej pokładzie gromadziły się wyrzutki floty. Admiralicja postanowiła wreszcie przekształcić stary okręt w muzeum. Nie takiego końca służby pragnął kapitan Granger. Obcy jednak powrócili, a nowoczesne okręty nie zdołały ich powstrzymać. Przestarzała i rozbrojona „Konstytucja” musiała ruszyć do walki. Była ostatnią nadzieją na ocalenie Ziemi…
Nick became a scientist so that he could build starships. Unfortunately, his ship is taking longer to build than he'd hoped, so fictional starships will have to do for now. When he's not adding to his starship collection, you can find him tweeting and facebooking about Nasa, science, space, SciFi, and quoting Star Trek II.
He lives in Alabama with his wife, 2 kids, and 3 motorcycles.
Note: This author also writes books under the name of Endi Webb
Google 'Deus ex machina' and you may very well find the cover of this book. This is you fairly standard military scifi: Old ship about to be mothballed, crusty old captain, up and coming officer sent to put the ship away, sudden attack from alien species. All that was missing were Starbuck and Boomer.
The characters are fairly well written though a little stale, but the ending reeks of "Oh, no! I forgot to leave a plot twist so that I can write another book."
The ending is far from satisfying destroying all the carefully built motivation for the main character. Why are authors so unwilling to let a character die. If the character's motivation that you have carefully crafted for two hundred pages calls for it, let them die. Yes, you can't write another story about them, but at least this one would have been a good one.
It would have been a decent read, if not for the hokey ending.
This reads pretty much as a rip of Battlestar Galactica. Aging ship, washed up captain, drunken XO, on the verge of it's decommissioning Earth space is attacked. That was as far as I got. No need to finish it.
Human culture forgetting the lessons of a past war? Check. Aging capital ship about to be turned into a museum that later becomes the key to humanity's survival? Check. Old, crusty commander on the verge of retirement? Check. Alcoholic XO with a history of poor discipline? Check. Greedy human betrays humanity and grants secret information to the enemy that allows them to slice through Earth's defenses? Check. Aging starfighters put back into the fight? Check. Leader staring a cancer diagnosis in the face? Check.
Nope, not Ron Moore's brilliant reboot of Battlestar Galactica, but rather this stunningly derivative novel that will amaze you with questions as to how this managed to get past an editor before you realize it was self-published. It amazes me that Mr Webb could so transparently mimic so many of the key plot points of Galactica without a hint of self awareness. Especially since the world and story that's underneath the retreaded BSG story elements is actually pretty interesting.
There are already over 2200 reviews, 89% of them positive, so there is little which I can add. Simple, easy to read military sci-fi with a theme very similar to Christopher Nuttall's ARK ROYAL series. Another military sci-fi story based on the oft used, but still entertaining, premise of old worn out and or cast aside ships and people saving the day.
Not great sci-fi but entertaining and it is available via Kindle Unlimited. I will read the next volume.
I am one of those people who finishes a book once I start it. I struggled to do so. I had read the first few chapters 6 weeks ago and anytime I found something better, I easily set aside Constitution. After reading a book I enjoyed, I forced myself to read another chapter of this book.
I knew when I started Constitution that it was military science fiction, but that is all it is. Aliens who no one has ever seen. Bad Russians in bed with a VP who wants to be president. An old space ship with a dying captain and his drunk right hand. So predictable that neither the characters nor the story were interesting.
About to be decommissioned, the career officer just wants to get her job done when the aliens return after 75 years. The first few chapters introduced us to the characters, but they were pretty similarly boring. The Constitution is one of the old ships and the aliens easily destroy the fancier new ships, so that only the Constitution stands between them and Earth. Multiple space battles with the formula of the lasers didn't work so let's try the gatling guns approach. Interspaced are detailed scientific descriptions of what they think the aliens are doing to destroy ships, space stations and cities.The discarded captain saves the day and becomes the hero.
Constitution went into my collection of "boring delete it" on my kindle. I am relieved that it was free on Amazon when I obtained it. This book makes me rethink my lifelong approach that when I start a book I need to finish it. I felt like I punished myself in forcing myself to read it to the end.
This novel imparted a strange feeling all the way through its pages. Images of Commander Adama, on the bridge of the Battelstar Galactica (BSG), surrounded by other characters of remarkably equal similarities, were ever constant. In fact, it was so difficult to dismiss the setting of the reimagined television series that I finally gave up and ran with the imagery and characters of the BSG world. It also brought up the possibility that Webb wrote a full length fan-fiction novel and then edited all the minor details in order to avoid paying licensing fees to the franchise owners.
In comparing Constitution to the reimagined BSG series, however, the novel falls short of the content of the series. The book is one constant battle for survival and is written within the confines of military culture. Characters follow orders, put their personal feelings aside, and attack the enemy until reaching their last dying breath. The television series, on the other hand, took time between the battle scenes in order to explore the characters. The series made the characters human and allowed for real human fears and frustrations to guide their actions, even while living in a militaristic world. Constitution may have touched on this, but the next battle scene always cut humanity short.
The writing of military demeanor was a strong point. Webb captures the ability of those in command to garner respect. He also conveys the sense of duty felt by those following orders and he humorously provides the sarcasm that shows up from time to time as a momentary release of frustration. Webb also knows how to put battle scenes in space into words. He gives the reader enough to feed the imagination while not diluting the action with needless details.
Overall, I was enamored by the nod to BSG that Constitution afforded. I simply wish that humanity had a bigger role to play in the midst of all the action.
Nie jestem fanem gatunku, ale kurde, wciągnęłam się w tą historię! Fajna młodzieżówka, zaskoczyła mnie parokrotnie, a do tego świetny lektor. Trochę mam wrażenie, że wszystkie są na jedno kopyto (ale słuchałam dosłownie trzech książek, więc co ja tam wiem), ale dla mnie to fantastyczny przerywnik i odskocznia od tytułów, które słucham na codzień. Fajne postacie, obcy trochę do kitu, ale nie lubię tego wątku, więc cóż). Na pewno sięgnę po kolejne tomy!
I started this book because it showed up in a list of best sci-fi on kindle unlimited. I'm really excited about how much I like the series so far! It's been a while since I've read really space-battle-y sci-fi so this was a pretty fun read. I also found myself getting really fond of the characters, which is always a huge plus. I'll be reading the rest of the series for sure.
I have read many military sci-fi books in the last year, mostly from New and Up and coming authors. I found this book right near the top of my must read list because I read the 1st 3 books in the Pax Humana Saga. Mr. Webb has already proven to me that he writes an excellent sci-fi novel. The backstory is set and you can see events starting to take place then boom, the action sets in almost non stop. The pace is quick, and the science behind the action is understandable. The book has a good flow to it, and unlike other books, some of the chapters are very short, giving into ones imagination as if you were watching a movie and the scenes would cut back and forth. Fans of military sci-fi must read this book, you will not be disappointed.
I can't believe I nearly forgot to rate this story! It was so very, very good. Colorful, well developed characters, good science, great world building. Not a new trope, but so well done. Excellent narration. Highly recommended for sci-fi readers who insist on a story revolving about the characters.
Enjoyed this book. After the introductions to the characters and situations the story explodes into fast reading all the way to the end. This author and series was new to me but is now in my queue for the other books he wrote. Looking forward to reading them.
Picked up this book in my quest to read some new, little known, self published authors. Reading books of this kind can be somewhat hit or miss but this one was more hit than miss. As many people have pointed out, the main story/background is very similar to BSG, misfit captain, old ship being decommissioned and turned into a museum, corrupt politicians and old enemy returning after 75 years etc etc. But the enemy has a type of weapon I have never thought of before and in the end there is mystery that makes me want to continue on to the next book.
This is an almost non-stop space battles action book. Fans of David Weber and Jack Campbell will find lots to like here. Some of the science is a bit iffy. Decommissioning things like the engines must take more than a day or two, and then bringing them back online on a few hours seems very unlikely.
A solid read and better than a lot of I have had the misfortune to encounter. A trilogy so not a huge undertaking to finish the series.
Perhaps not really a five star book, but it is clearly worth more than the paltry one or two stars some people have given it, so karma required I gave it five stars to redress the balance.
Webb gave me characters I really cared about, and didn't pull his punches when some of those characters don't make it to the end of the book. There is an intriguing sub-plot that works as an effective hook, but is not resolved in the first book. When I finished Constitution I immediately went looking for the next instalment, so I guess that hook has done its job.
It's not hard to predict aspects of books two and three, as the clues are not subtle, but I am hoping for lots of surprises (please Nick). So a better than average SiFi shoot-em-up.
If you're ready for action on every page of a book then "Constitution" is the book to read. Nick Webb does a masterful job of putting you right into the fight to save Earth from the Swarm, an alien people committed to death and destruction of whatever or whoever lays within its path. Join the crew of the ISS Constitution led by feisty and cranky Captain Tim Granger as they join the fight. Launch into governmental intrigue, hot battle action and heroism as you enjoy this page-turner.
A great story about how the old ways may be better then the current ways. A mystery fleet has arrived and is blowing up cities and space platforms as well as the spaceships sent to fight them.
Almost having been moth balled an older battle ship it appears that the old technology and construction it possesses can resists the invaders.
A rousing military science fiction story and the start of a new series.
As other reviewers have noted, the plot of this book bears a very strong similarity to that of Battlestar Galactica. Luckily for me, I LOVE Battlestar Galactica, so I thoroughly enjoyed this book!
Decades after a war against aliens almost destroyed the human race, the last of the old line of fleet ships who held the line against the invaders is about to be turned into a museum. And with it, the aging captain and his first officer are looking at mothballs as well. But there is a conspiracy at play, and the alien race that had mysteriously disappeared has come again, destroying all of the modern human spacecraft that had been specially prepared to meet them. It is up to the Constitution, once again, to hold the line against the aliens who are bent on destroying humanity.
If the storyline sounds familiar, it's because it is. Those who are fans of the TV series Battlestar Galactica will recognize many of the same elements. The story starts off with many of the same cliches that I've read before, and even the dialogue is stiff. And to be honest, I almost stopped reading it about ten pages in for that very reason. But then I went back to its Amazon page and saw more than a thousand favorable ratings and wondered if they saw something I didn't see. And so I kept reading, and the story got better.
What I ended up getting was a fast-paced, high-action story that never lets up. The body count is high, the characterization leaves a lot to be desired, but the story is fun. The captain is forced time and again to make hard choices that cost people their lives, but end up saving countless others in the process. If you like space military sci-fi, especially space battles, this is a likely candidate.
This book is so close to the story line of Battlestar Galactica that I am not sure how the publisher permitted it. It starts in exactly the same way, an enemy attacked earth and its colonies many years ago and then disappeared, at the decommissioning ceremony of the oldest ship in the fleet with one of the oldest captains, they came back.
It is exactly like the first two episodes of the new Battlestar Galactica, not similar, it is exact. It just has different names for characters, ships and the enemy
As a fan of military science fiction, and having read quite a bit of it I recommend this book as a worthwhile time and money investment. Characters are well developed and the pacing and action was quite good. I only gave it four stars as it was rather short and could have used more in the way of further character development and back story. I look forward to other books in the series.
Can this be more American? So the bad guys are russians, of course, cause 600 years in the future nothing has changed. And the plot is so basic... "Nobody know how they are", but someone knows. "They left leaving no trace behind", but someone tracked them. I could complain about this book more than it took me read it.
A riveting sci-fi read. Q-jumping straight to book two of the series, being careful to avoid any singularities or black holes ;) If you like complex characters, battles with aliens, realistic world creation and scene setting, then definitely pick up this series.
The author starts the book by trying to set the scene, unfortunately he does this by every chapter jumping from one location and set of characters, to another. It becomes more annoying when you try to remember who is who, only to discover you are not going to meet them again, as they are killed in the next chapter. You reach the point where you might as well skip read through these sections.
About a third of the way through the book the story settles on the ship Constitution, with a parallel political intrigue plot going on in the background. This improved the flow of the story and made it a better read.
The big battle had some interesting aspects, but it was obvious the author had decided that it was going to be a massive ‘blood fest’. It hardly seemed worth following any of the characters as they were going to die anyway.
At one point I could have given 3 or 4 stars, but in the end I only gave 2. However there is still potential in the story so I still might try the next book in the series.
This is about a space ship in the future defending earth against aliens. I absolutely loved this book for so many reasons, lets see if I can name them all.
The characters were believable and relatable, I loved their interactions. I completely got lost in this book, at times I would look up and realize I wasn't on the Constitution (it was a mix of shock,and gratefulness ha). The humor, I have never laughed out load at a book before. I wish there were more books like this with this type of humor. I just enjoyed all parts of the book it was just the perfect storm.
Ok now the bad. I am pretty sure this book raised my blood pressure, and I was being a bit rude to people around me because I NEEDED to know what happened next. Joking aside I can't really think of anything that I disliked.
I highly recommend this to anyone that likes fast paced novels that you can't put down.
This was a real page turner. I like the overall concept and the use of quantum effects in the story. The characters and the world are just not all that believable. Now this is science fiction. True. But against classics like Rendezvous with Rama or modern mega hits like 3 body problem, this book just doesn’t match up. I am interested in what happens next in the trilogy. But not so much that I am going to pick up the next one. No doubt book 2 is a page turner as well. Just not going to go there.
Starú dámu, poslednú loď zo svojej kategórie a veterána z bojov s Rojom sa chystajú premeniť na múzeum. V praxi to znamená odzbrojiť, navyše s veľmi rýchlym tempom. Kapitán je na tom podobne ako jeho loď; starý veterán, ktorého sa velenie chce konečne zbaviť. Čitateľ však vďaka anotácii už vie, že z múzea ani z dôchodku nič nebude, tak si môže užiť doťahovanie medzi kapitánom a dôstojníčkou poverenou s prestavbou lode a čakať, kedy ich hrozivé udalosti dobehnú. Roj sa totiž vrátil a dôjde k tomu celkom rýchlo. Príbeh je decentným mixom space opery a military scifi a celom verím, že prvočiateľa žánrov dokáže pohltiť. Kto však podobné knihy číta už dekády, nájde v nich mnoho podobností s inými knihami a sériami. Niekedy to zaškrípalo, ale celkovo autor dosť šikovne servíroval dej. Striedal akciu, reakciu, pohľady do politického zákulisia aj na nepriateľa v podobe Roja. Takže verdikt je, že kniha síce neohúrila, ale určite zabavila.